Robbie Assey, Georgetown’s unofficial mayor passes away

By Scott Harpersharper@gtowntimes.com

Photos

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Scott Harper/Times
Family members carry Robbie Assey’s casket out of St. Mary’s Catholic Church Monday.

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In 2010, Assey was visited by his hero, Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo. Photo from the Post and Courier.

For decades, Robbie Assey was as much a part of Front Street as the Town Clock.

The man, who never let his Down Syndrome become a deterrent, passed away Friday at the age of 64 at an assisted care facility where he had been living since 2009.

Assey was the son of the late Dr. John T. Assey and Helen Maguire Assey.

Former Georgetown Mayor Lynn Wood Wilson, who attended Assey’s funeral Monday, said he is unsure who gave Assey the title “The unofficial Mayor of Georgetown,” but, Wilson said, it was very fitting and appropriate.

Assey was almost always seen wearing a cowboy hat and many times he would carry a guitar as he walked up and down Front Street. A cowboy hat was placed on top of his casket during the funeral which took place at St. Mary Our Lady of Ransom Roman Catholic Church.

Father Ronald Farrell said Assey was “so much a part of St. Mary’s as he was a large part of Georgetown.”

He said he first met Assey while walking on Front Street just days after moving to Georgetown 11 years ago. He said Assey did not know him at that time “but he recognized what I was wearing and came up and hugged me.”

Farrell also talked about the relationship Assey had with his aunt, Maime Delzell, with whom he lived on Prince Street after his parents died.

“Robbie and Maime really loved each other,” he said with Timothy Assey, Robbie’s brother, later adding “their relationship was beautiful.”

Timothy shared several “Robbie stories” during the eulogy. One happened when there was a Rose’s Department store on Front Street which contained a lunch counter Robbie would visit quite often.

One day, according to his brother, Robbie ordered many items off the menu and ran up a bill of more than $11. After enjoying his large lunch, it came time to pay and Robbie told the worker he had no money. So, she called her manager over who spoke to Robbie about the situation.

“He asked Robbie how he could order all that food knowing he did not have any money,” Timothy Assey shared.

“You know I am retarded, right?” Robbie responded. The story drew a large laugh from those at the funeral.

“All of his family will miss him terribly, but feel so very blessed to have been a part of the life of this wonderfully special man. He loved the USC Gamecocks, the Dallas Cowboys, wrestling, bowling, golf, bingo, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and all kinds of music, especially country,” his family wrote in his obituary. “He loved ‘his people’ which included everyone. Although our hearts are breaking right now, we draw strength from knowing that his life was a unique gift to us all. We will be eternally grateful that he was a part of our lives for so long. We all look forward to seeing you again, and are comforted by the words you told us so often, ‘I’m right here.’”

Assey’s love of the Dallas Cowboys earned him a visit from Tony Romo in 2010.

Timothy said not only did Romo visit his brother, Robbie also got to have lunch with Romo and his father.

After the Georgetown Times reported the news of Assey’s death Sunday, many people shared their remembrances of him via Facebook.

“He was always smiling and it was a joy to see and visit with him, for he always had time for you. Growing up with him and then my children doing the same made him remarkable to our family — and we were just one family his life touched. His beautiful life touched all the people of Georgetown as well as all who walked the busy sidewalks on Front Street,” Mary Miller wrote.

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